Abuela de Miamihttps://abuelademiami.wordpress.com
Miami grandma...my granddaughter's name for me!Fri, 10 Mar 2017 03:22:08 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/e4af1f909042934ae008b4c111de686d?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngAbuela de Miamihttps://abuelademiami.wordpress.com
STAFF at Northeast Women’s Healthcare Clinic in Houston Called Police to Arrest Undocumented Latina in Front of Her Two Young Daughtershttps://abuelademiami.wordpress.com/2015/09/15/staff-at-northeast-womens-healthcare-clinic-in-houston-called-police-to-arrest-undocumented-latina-in-front-of-her-two-young-daughters/
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Map of Northeast Women’s Healthcare Clinic in Houston, TX

I came across a story on my twitter feed this morning posted by @KidsImmigration that just breaks my grandmotherly heart on so many levels. An undocumented mother in Houston was arrested in front of her two daughters at her doctor’s office, Northeast Women’s Healthcare Clinic, after the staff called police because they “suspected” she was using false documents. An avalanche of questions exploded in my mind!

Who does such a cruel thing? What motivates someone to tear someone’s life apart in front of her children? And who is the “staff” at the Northeast Women’s Healthcare clinic in Houston, TX who would do that to a patient in their clinic? There is usually a self-righteous instigator, agitator, initiator who bullies the rest to go along with this type of behavior. Who was it? Was it Dr. David J. Bonilla, was it Dr. Vonne Jones, was it Dr. Miles E. Mahan, was it RN Penny Norman, was it RN Susana Kataka-Gitu? Why didn’t someone stand up and say this is not part of our job? Is this the type of action that Memorial Hermann Medical Group encourages and condones from their employees? Does President & CEO Dan Woltermann applaud the actions of the staff? What happened to the Hippocratic Oath the doctors swore to uphold? Is the state of women’s health care and medical care in general such that providers have now become an active part of law enforcement and Homeland Security? Are these doctors to be trusted?

This is a sad day for us. Whichever side of the immigration debate you stand on, this was not handled correctly. This was hateful and vindictive. And where are the evangelical Christian voices in Houston who should be opposed to this type of heartless, cruel action? I call on the Christian community to express disapproval and indignation that a person made in God’s own image could be treated so inhumanely: Lakewood Church, Second Baptist Church, Fellowship Church, The Woodlands Church, New Light Church, The Fountain of Praise, Windsor Village United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, Church Without Walls, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Community of Faith, Champion Forest Baptist Church…

Familia, we should not remain quiet in the face of the injustices that continue to pile up against our community nationwide. We must voice our concern on social media, call your government officials to account, call the media to account, and stop patronizing and supporting organizations that mistreat our people. Hold these individuals, companies, organizations accountable for their actions. We are on the moral right of this issue!

‘He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:18-19

‘Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ Deuteronomy 27:19

“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:33-34

“The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked.” Psalms 146:9

With the great crew and one of the owners at thePre-opening event at Bonefish Grill – Aventura

Wild Orchid Hawaiian Martini at the Bonefish Grill – Aventure

Tuna Street Tacos at Bonefish Grill Aventura

Cilantro Lime Salad at Bonefish Grill Aventura

Surf & turf mixed grill at Bonefish Grill Aventura

Strawberry shortcake at Bonefish Grill Aventura

Do it yourself donuts with caramel and chocolate at Bonefish Grill Aventura

Espresso Martini at Bonefish Grill Avetura

Abuela de Miami received a wonderful invitation to attend a private, VIP, one of a kind, special preview, pre-opening, five course meal at the new Bonefish Grill in Aventura. On the eve of its grand opening, Abuela de Miami, along with a number of other local influencers, was warmly received by the bright, young staff whose eagerness and enthusiasm was refreshing and contagious. Abuela de Miami loves and rewards excellent customer service so I had to immediately take a “selfie” with this memorable crew and one of the owners.

We were received with signature cocktails like the Wild Orchid Hawaiian Martini which was exquisitely prepared and then were led into one of the two beautiful private dining areas to start our gastronomic experience. Each course from the appetizers to the desserts was accompanied by a special wine or a signature cocktail. Scrumptious tuna street tacos were accompanied by a Chandon rosé; a cilantro lime salad was paired with a Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand; a surf & turf mixed grill was enhanced by the exceptional Conundrum Red Blend from California. Talk about smooth, melt in your mouth flavor. We didn’t just have one dessert, we had two! The strawberry shortcake with fresh berries and real whipped cream was then followed by the new do it yourself donuts from the bar menu with the option to fill the donuts with caramel or chocolate. The evening was topped off by a one of a kind espresso martini with house made vanilla vodka, which was amazing and definitely gave you a jolt of energy!

This truly was a memorable night and the new friends I made were a special bonus! Miami Al Maximo is definitely placing this location on its summer production list. Bonefish Grill – Aventura is a must visit when you want to have a delicious contemporary American meal in a sophisticated yet casual environment with great service. They are located at 18713 Biscayne Boulevard and although reservations are not required I would definitely take advantage of their online reservation system so that you have a table ready and waiting. Long lines are sure to form at this location as soon as the word is out that they are open for business. For more information and reservations go to https://www.bonefishgrill.com/Aventura and make sure to follow them on twitter @bonefishgrill.

P.S. Each of us was given a bottle of Conundrum Red Blend from California to enjoy at home! Yay!!

Abuela de Miami had the awesome experience of attending the PGA Executive Women’s Day at the Cadillac Championship, Trump National Doral on March 2, 2015.

Now in its fourth year, the event was sponsored by Astellas and the setting was the elegant Crystal Ballroom at the Trump National Doral. I was invited as part of the influencer group of South Florida Bloggin’ Mamas and from start to finish we received VIP treatment. The PGA Executive Women’s Day succeeded in creating an unforgettable experience for the participants, and from valet parking, special gifts, delicious lunch, networking time, special tour and event photos, the attention to detail was evident.

My favorite part was listening and interacting with the panel of speakers at the event. These are women who have succeeded in their fields and are now giving back and empowering other women for success. Moderated by Local 10 anchor, Kristi Krueger, the real life experience, practical advice and accessibility shared and demonstrated by each of these exceptional women was invaluable and paid dividends on the investment of a few hours of my day. The Power Panel discussion was led by Michelle Beauchamp, USA Brand Director for Grey Goose & Bacardi, Sonya Canas, Senior Vice President/Commercial Banking Manager of Mercantil CommerceBank, and Dondra Ritzenthaler, Senior Vice President of Sales & Trade at Celebrity Cruises. Keynote speaker Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management, Managing Director & Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley rounded out the event with wisdom from years of experience: “if you consider yourself a leader in the 21st century you must be comfortable taking risks!”

I returned over the weekend to watch the tournament and I have to give an honorable mention to Imagination Playground Kid’s Zone located at the 18th Hole Fan Zone. What a great idea and a wonderful experience for the children who attended the event! The playground was composed of large shaped blocks which included cubes, cylinders, cogs and allowed the kid to create whatever they wanted and as far as their imagination would take them. Imagination Playground manufactures these innovative playgrounds which encourage creativity, camaraderie and collaboration among the children. You can get more information at http://www.imaginationplayground.com.

Make sure to be on the lookout for the PGA Tour’s Women’s Executive Day in your part of the country, and definitely plan on attending next year’s event in the south Florida area. For more information you can visit their website at: www.pgatour.com/woman.html. You can also follow them on their social media platforms at:

Abuela de Miami had to get in on the #PorkTeInspira #SabiosDelSabor contest by sharing a picture of a favorite pork dish: Carnitas al Horno! #AbueloDeMiami loves tacos de carnitas, but I want to keep them as healthy as possible for him so I skip the traditional frying method and I roast the pork shoulder instead. Although using the roasting method takes longer, the preparation is easier and more importantly most of the fat is rendered out. I save the rendered fat and use it to prepare refried beans or other recipes that call for tasty fat! Here is the recipe:

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 375º
2. Season the pork pieces with Goya Adobo, which you can find in the Hispanic section of your supermarket. If not then make a spice blend with a base of salt and garlic powder. Get creative!
3. Add olive oil to a Dutch oven (deep pan with lid that goes from stove to oven) and heat to medium high heat on the stove
4. Add the pork sections and sear on all sides. This should take about 10 minutes. Turn off burner
5. Add the garlic, onion and pour the orange juice over the meat. Add the orange peel if you like
6. Cover the Dutch oven with foil and then place the lid on the pan
7. Place the Dutch oven in the oven at 375º for an hour, then lower the temperature to 240º for two hours
8. After three hours remove the pan from the oven and gently take the meat out of the pan and place it on a plate to rest and drain for twenty minutes. Pull apart meat to assemble tacos
9. Warm up corn tortillas and assemble the tacos adding cilantro and onions; sprinkle with lime and add your salsa
10. EAT!

Mexicans only place onions, cilantro and salsa on our tacos de carnitas because we expect the flavor of the meat to be so delicious and succulent that we don’t want anything to cover it up! I typically serve the tacos with Mexican coleslaw (shredded cabbage, cucumber, onion, cilantro, salt, lime juice) on the side. The acidity of the salad helps cut through the richness of the meat. You can add toppings to your liking and serve with your favorite side dish.

Thank you to Latina Mom Bloggers for letting us know about this contest. Get in on the fun and share a picture of your favorite pork recipe using the hashtag #SabiosDelSabor on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram for a chance to win a VIP getaway for two to Miami! Go to http://www.porkteinspira.com/dalailomo for more information.

Abuela de Miami and Abuelo de Miami attended the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation Annual Christmas Gala at the Miami Seaquarium on Saturday, December 6th. It was one of those rare, beautiful, cool South Florida evenings accompanied by a gentle breeze. Hundreds poured onto the Seaquarium grounds where tents had been set up. Food and drink were aplenty, and the music was jammin’. The highlight of the night for abuela and abuelo de Miami was Grupo Niche. They delighted the crowd with their classics as everyone sang and danced along. From the iconoc “Revolotea” to “Gotas de Lluvia” to “Una Aventura” they gave their all to Miami that evening. You can visit Abuela de Miami’s Instagram account @jflores111 to watch a couple of videos which I uploaded.

The grounds were so large that I didn’t see any of my fellow Carnaval Miami VIP Ambassadors although I knew they were there because I was continually receiving their posts on social media. It was the perfect event to kick off a very busy holiday season. Looking forward to the upcoming events. Follow here or at @abuelademiami, @carnaval_miami to receive updates.

Abuela de Miami named a VIP Culture Ambassador for Carnaval Miami 2015!

Abuela de Miami had so much fun at Carnaval on the Mile 2014 and Calle Ocho 2014 that she was thrilled when she was chosen for Carnaval Miami 2015 as a VIP culture ambassador! As a member of South Florida Bloggin’ Mamas she had the opportunity to submit her name for consideration, and at the Carnaval Preview Party on November 10th at the Open Stage Club in Coral Gables she was given the great news along with a number of the other VIP ambassadors in attendance.

Carnaval Miami is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana and includes a number of events during the months of February and January which include Carnaval on the Mile, Miss Carnaval Miami, Carnaval Miami Domino Tournament and the nation’s largest Latin street party, CALLE OCHO! For the past 37 years these events have made it possible for the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana to raise funds for scholarships, projects and programs which benefit the youth in the community. Many of the youth who participate in the educational and recreational programs start as small children remain until they become young adults heading off to Florida universities with the scholarships given to them by the Kiwanis Club.

Carnaval on the Mile is a two day festival located on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables filled with art, music, food and fun for the entire family. Next year it is from Saturday – Sunday, March 7 – 8, 2015.

Calle Ocho is held on a Sunday in Little Havana between SW 8th Street and 27th Avenue from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. There are blocks full of booths with Latin food from every country, stages with the hottest Latin performers, children’s activities and companies giving away samples to the hundreds of thousands who show up to party! Next year the event is on Sunday, March 15, 2015.

Abuela de Miami will be posting on the events taking place as we head into Carnaval season. Follow on Facebook and Twitter @AbuelaDeMiami and @Carnaval_Miami for the most recent updates.

Abuela de Miami Donates Hair to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths Cause on National Donate Your Hair Day, November 22, 2014

Abuela de Miami had the awesome privilege of being able to donate 8 inches of her hair on National Donate Your Hair Day, Saturday, November 22, 2014 through the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program. Abuela de Miami heard about this special event on a Twitter Party hosted by Latina Mom Bloggers with telenovela star Maite Perroni and celebrity hairstylist Gabriel Samra. Since Pantene started the Beautiful Lengths program in 2006 more than 600,000 ponytails have been donated and over 34,000 wigs have been created for women with cancer.

The event in Miami was held at Gabriel Samra Hair Salon where more than 17 women, children and men added to the 4,800,000 inches of hair donated since 2006 to this worthy cause. The whole process was pleasant, convenient and the Pantene reps and the staff at the salon made us feel like celebrities! My hair had to be clean, dry, without any hair products or dyes, and no more than 5% gray hair. Gabriel made two ponytails out of my hair and then snip, snip and it was done!

My hair grows quickly so I look forward to being able to donate again next year! In the meantime I’m rocking this very cool, unstructured bob by Gabriel Samra that really frames my face very nicely and is easy to style. Thank you Pantene Beautiful Lengths and Gabriel Samra for all you do!

Abuela de Miami recently participated in the Disney Infinity Blogger event here in Miami hosted by one of our favorite blogueras, Rory Mama Contemporanea! José Villeta, Director of Technology for Disney Interactive introduced the new Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes 2.0 edition and the new Marvel figures that are now a part of the collection.

There is great news all around for parents and abuelos that will place this gift under the tree for the little ones, The Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition) Video Game Starter Pack is compatible with WiiU, PlayStation3, PlayStation4, Xbox One and Xbox 360. No need to purchase a new gaming system! The video game starter pack includes the following:

The expanded number of Disney Infinity figures will open new worlds where the creativity and imagination of every child can take off. I love that the kids are creating while they play. And the best news is that you now have a wide range of new superhero figures for gift giving throughout the year!

Note: Per Disney, Disney Infinity Figures and Power Discs are forward compatible, meaning they all work in Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition). However, Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition) Figures and Power Discs that are labeled 2.0 only work with the Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition) Video Game Software and not with the previous Disney Infinity software. For more information go to http://www.infinity.disney.com

Have a wonderful Christmas celebration and remember that the most important gift you can give your loved ones this holiday season is yourself!

Feliz navidad y un prospero año nuevo amigos! Love,

Abuela de Miami

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#PoweringSafety event

#PoweringSafety with the Energizer Bunny!

Hi friends and family,

Abuela de Miami wants to make sure you change the BATTERIES on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you change your clocks one hour back on November 2nd. I recently had the opportunity of personally meeting the Energizer Bunny during a stop he made at the Home Depot Store in Little Havana where the City of Miami Fire-Rescue where sharing fire safety tips with the local community.

The Energizer Bunny shared 7 great tips to ensure that you and your family are protected:

1. Count Your Smoke Alarms, Be sure there is at least one smoke alarm less than ten years old installed on every level of your home, including one in every bedroom and outside of each sleeping area.
2. Change Your Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector Batteries. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and fire experts nationwide encourage people to change smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries annually. An easy way to remember to do so is to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when you change your clocks back to standard time November 2.
3. Check Your Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. After inserting a fresh battery in each smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector, push the safety test button to make sure alarms are in proper-working condition. Conduct
this test monthly. Never disconnect your smoke alarm battery! Remember that a “chirping” alarm is a signal it needs a fresh battery.
4. Clean Your Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. Ensure your smoke alarms’ and carbon monoxide detectors’ sensitivity by cleaning them each month of dust and cobwebs.
5. Replace Your Smoke Alarms. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) recommends replacing smoke alarms every 10 years and having a combination of both ionization and photo electric smoke alarms to keep you alert to all types of home fires.
6. Change Your Flashlight Batteries. Keep flashlights with fresh batteries at your
bedside for help in finding the way out and signaling for help in the event of a fire.
7. Get the Whole Family Involved. Once smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and have fresh batteries, you should make sure family members, children in particular, know what the alarms and detectors sound like and what to do should they go off.

Abuela de Miami is working with Bloggin’ Mamas, the Ad Council and Get Covered America to raise awareness about the Health Insurance Marketplace and the financial assistance available.

DID YOU KNOW:
-that March 31st is the deadline to enroll in subsidized healthcare?
-that more than 1 in 6 Americans don’t have health insurance?
-that more than half of the uninsured could find insurance for less than $100 per month?
-that 1 in 4 Hispanics are uninsured?
-that 1 in 6 African Americans are uninsured?
-that one trip to the emergency room for a broken arm or a bad ear infection could cost thousands of dollars?
-that you can go to http://www.getcoveredamerica.org/ to get your questions answered?

I will be participating in a Twitter Chat tomorrow, Tuesday, March 11th from 1p-2p EST via #TakeCareChat. I would love for you to join in to learn more about Get Covered America and your options under the ACA. In case you miss that one, there will another one on March 18th from 1p-2p EST as well.

Remember to visit http://www.getcoveredamerica.org to learn more about your health plan options, local agencies which can answer questions, informational and enrollment events taking place in your area, and how to enroll by MARCH 31st mi gente! Also, if you have a moment tomorrow, Tuesday, March 11th, go ahead and log into the Twitter Chat from 1p-2p EST via #TakeCareChat. We’ll be learning about the Get Covered America and about our options under the ACA. In case you miss that one, there will another one on March 18th from 1p-2p EST as well.